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Shirley gets FEMA funds for flood damage

The city of Shirley will receive $10,262.45 from FEMA for damages to the ball field and walking track during the spring flooding, Mayor Johnny Sowell told the City Council at is Aug. 12 meeting.

Sowell said that FEMA did not allow for repairs to the two washed out areas of the walking track that had been repaired by contracting with Danny Gardner for a cost of $475.

Sowell said he had spoken with some of the baseball/softball members and the repairs to the lower ball field were to restore it to a “practice” field. He stated that there were some new items available to convert the big baseball field to a softball field as necessary. He said there was now an artificial mound and temporary fencing that could be put up when the field was being used as a softball field. The council decided to talk about the fields again at its September meeting.

The next item on the agenda was a quote for an additional camera to be set up the view the city’s new playground, as well as a remote camera along Highway 9 for the Centennial Museum building. Sowell said he was waiting on the quote from Advanced Alarm Systems. This item was tabled until the September council meeting.

Also at the meeting, the council voted to pick up the Medeicare supplements for Larry Dollar, water superintendent who is now of Medicare age. The city will cancel Dollar’s Municipal League coverage and add the supplemental coverage. The move will save the city $69.50 per month.

Councilor Floyd Haley asked if the city has ever considered training somebody to replace Dollar in the event of his retirement. Haley said Floyd was probably the only one who knew exactly where the lines, meters and connections in the system were. Sowell said Dollar has drafted a map outlining all the locations.

The Shirley City Council’s next regular meeting is 7 p.m. Sept. 9, 2013, at the community center. The meetings are open to the public.